Visual problems

[floralgypsy]

I have a few visual problems that I think are associated with anxiety and panic disorders and would like to know whether anyone else experiences this symptoms. The first is general dizziness. I don't often feel as though the room is spinning, more a feeling that the images can't keep up with my eyes-a feeling that I have to look at something for a moment longer than normal for the images to come into focus. The second problem I have is the way my eyes react to light when I am nervous. I can walk from the outside into a dimly lit room and my vision nearly go completely. It really scares me. I also have to squint a little in order to stop me from feeling as though I am about to black out. Does anyone else have similar problems?

[Meg]

Yes, both these are common with anxiety and panic episodes .

Meg

[ana]

Hello!
While I was reading your post, I felt like I wrote this! Honestly! I have exactly the same thing!
Sometimes it seems like the room or the street is spinning or moving from one side to another or I just have blury vision.
It can be really scary but I know it is all part of our anxiety/panic.
Take care
Ana

[Ruby]

While not meaning to trivialise the scariness of your symptoms, floralgypsy, I find it reassuing to read you have them! I do too.
I know it's anxiety but that often doesn't stop me feeling anxious about it. Sometimes this is all such a viscious circle, isn't it?[Sigh...]

[wozza500]

I get these also, particularly the first one. I describe it as dazed or a detached feeling, and it seems always difficult to track moving objects, not nice as it's difficult to try and ignore. Sometimes last for days. Hope this puts you at ease a little.

cuckoo, cuckoo

[floralgypsy]

Thank you all so much for replying. I am trying to write all my symptoms down in a letter that I plan to send to my GP, because I am desperate to get this sorted. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to confuse issues if I included symptoms that he had never known as linked to anxiety/panic. A cure would be lovely but I don't expect one very soon, a way to manage these symptoms is all that I am looking for. Thanks again.

[seh1980]

Hi,

I get exactly the same thing. The best thing to do is to try to not think about it and it will gradually happen less.

Sarah (seh1980)

[nomorepanic]

Hiya

The dizziness and blurre vison was a big problem for me too. I even got my eyes checked cos I was convinced my sight was going but of course it was fine.

As for the light, I can relate to that too. When it got dark it used to scare me for no reason and I only felt better if I was inside and unable to see that it was dark outside.

It is a good idea to write all these things down so you don't forget some cos once he can reassure you that it is all panic/anxiety you can start to understand it better.

Nicola

[jollywalrus]

Hi Floralgypsy,

I can measure how my day is going to be from the state of my eyes! If I have a blur I know it's going to be a bad day and sudden changes in light also give me the collywobbles.

Try to work with it and one day you will see it has just gone away.

Best wishes,

Christine

[Alison]

Hi

I've been having the dizzy/spaced out feelings too, but they seem to be there all the time. So far its lasted 4 weeks. Is this normal? I'm feeling pretty jitterey too, but not sure if this is because I cant calm down.

Thanks

Alison

[Jules31]

I get visual problems too and find it hard when I go into a dark room in fact sometimes I get scared in case it's my vision going dark. I also start to feel like I will pass out.

Alison I have the dizzy spaced out feelings most of the time and had them for months and months and months on end. So I promise you it is normal for anxiety. The jitteriness will be because you can't calm down.

Jules

[Alison]

Hi Jules

Thanks for that. I have been driving myself round the bend about it. Worrying about worrying and stuff....which I know is not helpful. Thanks for the advice.

How do you deal with the anxiety or have you just learned to live with it?

Alison

[floralgypsy]

Thank you all for your replies, it makes things a lot easier to handle when you know that you are not alone. I went back to my GP two days ago as it is this spaced out feeling that I find to be the worst as it affects me nearly every day. He called this feeling derealisation and/or depersonalisation. I found a useful link that highlights how people have described their feelings and I can relate to so many of them! I'm now on Fluoxetine which he and I hope will control the anxiety and thus eliminate the derealisation. Hope this helps you all.

http://www.thelindenmethod.co.uk/depersonalisation-derealisation.htm